Venezuela's earthquake zone shifts from rescue to cleanup one month on

One month after twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela's La Guaira region, the immediate crisis of rescue operations has given way to the arduous task of clearing debris and beginning a slow commercial recovery. The initial days were marked by devastation, with collapsed buildings and desperate cries for help from those trapped beneath.

Residents initially took matters into their own hands to rescue survivors, as official rescue teams were scarce. Within approximately 60 hours, international aid and more robust rescue efforts began to deploy. Now, a month on, the landscape is transforming. International rescuers have largely departed as the chances of finding survivors have significantly diminished. Heavy machinery has become the dominant force, clearing collapsed structures and undertaking controlled demolitions of severely damaged buildings.

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We still have panic about returning to our homes. Of course, the buildings are standing, they didn't fall, but there are quite a few cracks, separations in the walls, some walls fell and here we are, toughing it out.

Amidst this recovery, hundreds of families are living in temporary tent encampments, having lost their homes or awaiting safety assessments. In the Mare Abajo sector, families are housed in tents donated by Samaritan's Purse, anxiously waiting for authorities to deem their homes safe. Eva Cedeño, a school supervisor whose building faces demolition, expressed the lingering fear, noting her grandson's distress after a fall during the earthquake. Despite engineers' initial assessments, a second opinion is sought for peace of mind, as residents long for the comfort of their homes while grappling with the trauma and uncertainty.

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I wish I were in my house, in my comfort zone, I long for it, I desire it, sometimes I'm fine, but sometimes it hits me hard.